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Top 20 Artificial Intelligence Engineering Schools in the U.S. 2016

A degree in artificial intelligence engineering? Is there really such a thing? According to Artificial Intelligence International, there absolutely is. In fact, there are enough universities in the United States that offer programs in artificial intelligence, or AI, that we were able to research them all and come up with a ranking of the top 20.

Although programs in this field are growing, they are not so ubiquitous that information about them – such as performance statistics, comparisons, and student preferences – are free flowing. However, as we explored our options, a few trends emerged that made it easier to determine which schools are the “top dogs” in AI education.

First, most programs are at the graduate level – and in a majority of those cases, the study of artificial intelligence was confined to a few measly elective courses. But there was a subset of schools on our original list that went above and beyond, providing specialized and/or comprehensive academic degrees in artificial intelligence starting at the undergraduate level. These overachievers formed the basis of our ranking, but we still needed a way to compare the programs with each other.

At this point, we noticed another trend: our searches of artificial intelligence degrees led us to schools’ research webpages as often as their admissions sites. Clearly, research is an important part of the subject. Students who really want to be on the cutting edge of the field need to do everything they can to get their hands dirty by helping out in an on-campus lab – or in the case of graduate students, completing original research. To identify the shining stars in AI research, we looked at the breadth and depth of each school’s program, making special note of quantifiable metrics like the number of faculty affiliated with work in artificial intelligence and the variety of focus areas in which the program claims expertise.

With this data in hand, we formed our top 20 ranking of artificial intelligence engineering schools. All 20 offer baccalaureate degrees, 14 offer graduate degrees, and all 20 have very productive research departments. Whether you like the sound of the program that placed 1st or 20th, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the options listed below. Read on to see which schools made the cut on this ranking of winners.

Undergrads at UC San Diego can make the most of their Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence degree by completing an honors research project on the subject.

20. University of California-San Diego

B.S. in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence Cluster

Undergraduate Program
At the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, undergraduates and graduate students alike can take advantage of unique opportunities in artificial intelligence. Students pursuing their bachelor’s degree in Computer Science have the option of adding a “cluster” (much like a concentration) in AI to their coursework. Courses in search and reasoning, computer vision, and image processing are available alongside independent study and research opportunities to help students prepare for a career in next generation computing. Speaking of research, graduate students can get involved in cutting-edge AI work by joining the Artificial Intelligence Group. This group seeks to develop real-world applications for technologies related to bioinformatics, data mining, speech and audio processing, and more.Net Price: $13,693/yrResearch Groups: Artificial Intelligence Group/Computational Statistics & Machine Learning (COSMAL)

Faculty at Georgia State University have helped organize more than 150 AI conferences and workshops, making this one of the best schools for artificial intelligence.

19. Georgia State University

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
Georgia State is one of the few universities to offer distinct academic programs in artificial intelligence at both the master’s and bachelor’s levels of study. Graduate students can take a course in Database and Artificial Intelligence as part of their “breadth” coursework, or choose to explore the topic in depth as their chosen specialty. There are also plenty of faculty at GSU conducting research in artificial intelligence, and in recent years their names have appeared on more than 300 papers about fuzzy logic, nature-inspired computing, pattern recognition, and more. As for undergraduates, a computer science concentration in Graphics and Human-Computer Interaction provides an introductory look at this cutting-edge field.Net Price: $15,609/yrResearch Groups: Artificial Intelligence; Computational Intelligence

Students interested in an artificial intelligence degree should take a close look at the Machine Intelligence track at Purdue University.

18. Purdue University

B.S. in Computer Science: Machine Intelligence Track

Undergraduate Program
How many schools do you know that offer a degree in Machine Intelligence – for undergraduates?! If you’ve heard of Purdue University, then you know at least one. This program, which is available as a concentration in the B.S. in Computer Science, offers coursework in artificial intelligence, data mining, machine learning, and robotics, among others. In fact, the variety of coursework available makes Purdue one of the best artificial intelligence schools for baccalaureate students. But that’s not to say that graduate students can’t get in on the action. The university’s research area in Machine Learning and Information Retrieval offers interdisciplinary research opportunities that span the fields of cognitive science, economics, statistics, robotics, and even cybersecurity.Net Price: $13,081/yrResearch Groups: Production, Robotics, & Integration Software for Manufacturing & Management (PRISM)

Columbia University’s impressive facilities and resources make a strong case for its inclusion on this artificial intelligence degrees ranking.

17. Columbia University in the City of New York

B.S. in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence Track

Undergraduate Program
Even if you weren’t interested in an artificial intelligence degree, Columbia University’s program in Computer Science would be an attractive choice. It has some of the most impressive facilities on the East Coast, including lab areas for robotics, natural language processing, and computer vision. Prototype wearable computers, 3-D graphics workstations, and IBM robotic arms are just a few of the extra cool features you’ll see in Columbia computing labs. But for students who do want to study AI, the university provides an entire track of courses devoted to understanding systems that exhibit “’human-like’ intelligence.” Of course, Columbia is also a research powerhouse that attracts graduate students from near and far. Over a dozen faculty specialize in areas related to Machine Learning, Vision and Robotics, and Graphics and User Interfaces.Net Price: $20,838/yrResearch Groups: Center for Computational Learning Systems; Machine Learning

The comprehensive and impressive RAIR Laboratory has distinguished Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as one of the top artificial intelligence schools.

16. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Undergraduate Program
Unlike most colleges which offer artificial intelligence degree coursework through the computer science program, at Rensselaer Polytechnic these futuristic topics are part of the Cognitive Science Department. Undergrads who pursue a B.S. in Cognitive Science at RPI turn their attention to both animal and artificial minds and gain a strong background in technological skills. Classes like Minds and Machines, Intro to Artificial Intelligence, and Machine and Computational Learning provide more than enough training for students to get their start in the AI field. RPI is also home to the Rensselaer Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning Lab (RAIR), where both faculty and student researchers have opportunities to ask such intriguing questions as, “Are we machines ourselves?”Net Price: $36,374/yrResearch Groups: Rennselaer Artificial Intelligence & Reasoning Lab; CogWorks Laboratory

For students who want an artificial intelligence degree, Harvard University has resources and research opportunities to spare.

15. Harvard University

A.B. in Computer Science: Mind, Brain, & Behavior

Undergraduate Program
There is a reason Harvard has appeared on top rankings of colleges for more than a century. The pristine facilities and endless resources that this university is able to afford its students are second to none, and it has attracted faculty who support a broad and varied assortment of coursework. For example, all students who “concentrate” in Computer Science at Harvard can complete classes in artificial intelligence and graphics, visualization, and user interfaces. But beyond this, students in Comp Sci can specialize in “Mind, Brain, and Behavior,” an interdisciplinary track that requires its members to complete research before graduation. And of course, Harvard is no slacker when it comes to research: the Artificial Intelligence Research Group (AIRG) is composed of top faculty studying everything from social computing to computational linguistics.Net Price: $15,095/yrResearch Groups: Artificial Intelligence Research Group (AIRG)

OSU’s “LAIR” is one of the best research facilities on this artificial intelligence degree ranking, with opportunities in cognitive systems, machine learning, neurodynamics, and more.

14. The Ohio State University

Undergraduate Program
At The Ohio State University, opportunities to study artificial intelligence are abundant. Computer science and engineering undergrads can get their start by choosing a focus in AI, which offers coursework in knowledge-based systems, neural networks, and computer vision, among others. But to really get a sense for OSU’s expertise in this area, look at its research programs. In fact, enough faculty at OSU pursue AI research that it has split the topic into five distinct subgroups: Applied Machine Learning; Auditory, Speech, and Language Processing; Machine Learning and Learning Theory; and Cognitive Systems. OSU also boasts the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence Research (LAIR), a reputable stronghold in cutting-edge AI research that has been operating since the 1970s.Net Price: $18,215/yrResearch Groups: Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence Research (LAIR)

Artificial intelligence degree seeking students at the University of Rochester can take advantage of research opportunities with high-tech groups like the Center for Computation and the Brain.

13. University of Rochester

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
If you’re looking not just to do research in AI, but also to actually earn a comprehensive artificial intelligence degree, the University of Rochester may be the place to do it. In fact, this high tech school has multiple academic options for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students seeking a BS in Computer Science can choose between two AI-related areas of interest: Machine Learning and Robotics, which focuses on data mining and machine vision; or Human-Computer Interaction and Web, which emphasizes cutting-edge HCI developments in web applications. For MS students, course options are broader and include everything from advanced algorithms and statistical speech to cognitive processing and data mining. And students at both levels can take advantage of research opportunities with professors who are leading the field in artificial intelligence innovations.Net Price: $32,996/yrResearch Groups: Center for Language Sciences; Center for Visual Science; Center for Computation & the Brain; Rochester Human Computer Interaction Group (ROCHI)

Northwestern University stands out among top artificial intelligence schools for its comprehensive AI program for undergraduates.

12. Northwestern University

B.S. in Computer Science: Depth in Artificial Intelligence

Undergraduate Program
At Northwestern University, undergraduate students have the opportunity to complete “breadth” and “depth” requirements within their major – just like graduate students. One of these “depth” options for computer science majors is in Artificial Intelligence, and unlike other schools (which only offer three or four courses in a typical specialization) Northwestern’s AI track includes nearly 20 different course options. You could study Natural Language Processing, Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, and Computational Geometry, to name a few. There is even a class in which students build “next gen” devices using Watson, IBM’s smart computer. The McCormick School of Engineering has established a robust research program as well, which includes opportunities to investigate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and human computer interaction.Net Price: $28,667/yrResearch Groups: Assistive & Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory (argallab); Intelligent Information Lab; Interactive Audio Lab

Oregon State University is another artificial intelligence school with a comprehensive set of courses for undergrads – as well as several for grad students.

11. Oregon State University

B.S. in Applied Computer Science: Human-Computer Interaction

Undergraduate Program
Of all the artificial intelligence degrees we’ve described so far, Oregon State University’s computer science program is perhaps the most versatile and customizable. Students who want to apply their CS experience to a specific area can choose from four predefined topics – one of which is Human-Computer Interaction – or even build their own. If you choose HCI, you’ll study programming, cognition, and psychology as you seek to understand “both sides of [the] interface.” But as impressive as this is, OSU’s research cluster in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science is perhaps an even bigger draw. This group tackles issues related to machine learning, natural language processing, and database systems – and even offers a list of open source software downloads that ambitious students can explore in their free time.Net Price: $16,462/yrResearch Groups: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, & Data Science

Graduate students earning their artificial intelligence degree from Indiana University are known for their creative outlook as they have a tendency to enter (and win) the Microsoft Imagine Cup Student Design Competition.

10. Indiana University

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
Indiana University is the only school in this ranking to offer a full-fledged, standalone undergraduate degree in AI that is not simply a concentration within the general computer science program. The new BS in Intelligent Systems Engineering is “all about going small to make a big impact”, which means that students focus on “small-scale, networked, and mobile technology.” Concentrations within this program include Bioengineering, Computer Engineering/Cyber-physical Systems, and Molecular and Nanoscale Engineering. As for grad students, the MS in HCI Design merges technology and creativity in a program that’s solution-oriented and project based. This graduate degree is also available as a track within the Ph.D. in Informatics and includes numerous research opportunities in artificial intelligence.Net Price: $11,573/yrResearch Groups: Center for Research on Concepts & Cognition; Rob Kling Center for Social Informatics; Computer Information & Graphics Technology Labs; Visual Information Sensing & Computing Center

Whether you’re interested in data mining, robotics, or language processing, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has the artificial intelligence degree program – and research expertise – you’ll need.

9. University of Massachusetts-Amherst

B.S. in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence

Undergraduate Program
If you’re an undergraduate studying computer science at UMass Amherst, you might want to check out the artificial intelligence degree track. And if you don’t go to UMass Amherst but you’re interested in machine learning, you might want to consider applying! Through the B.S. in Computer Science, students have easy access to classes in Robotics, Natural Language Processing, Embedded Systems, and Algorithms, just to name a few. This university also boasts a true wealth of AI-related research centers (see research groups below), making it one of the best options on this artificial intelligence degrees ranking for master’s and PhD students as well. Nearly 20 different faculty have dedicated their work to machine learning, computer vision, and cognitive computing, providing a seemingly limitless number of ways for students to get involved.Net Price: $18,840/yrResearch Groups: Autonomous Learning Laboratory; Biologically Inspired Neural & Dynamical Systems Laboratory; Computer Vision Research Laboratory; Information Extraction & Synthesis Laboratory; Knowledge Discovery Laboratory; Laboratory for Perceptual Robotics; Machine Learning for Data Science; Multi-Agent Systems Laboratory; Resource Bounded Reasoning Lab

BS students who want to get hands-on experience while earning their artificial intelligence degree should consider UIUP’s ECE program, which encourages all faculty to support undergraduate researchers.

8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Undergraduate Program
The BS degree in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Cybernetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is squarely focused on solving problems and preparing for the future. Motivated by current disagreements over AI algorithms and the need to address consumer preferences in “pseudo-intelligent devices,” the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UIUP has created this program to prepare students for work in an industry that is increasingly fast-paced and solution-oriented. As for graduate students, the real pull is in the AI research (the department is well-known for its undergrad research programs, too). UIUP professors study everything from motion planning and virtual reality to computer vision analytics and neuroimaging, offering plenty of variety for master’s and PhD students seeking an artificial intelligence degree.Net Price: $16,249/yrResearch Groups: Beckman Institute; Natural Language Processing Group; Speech & Language Engineering Group

The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Michigan houses 10 distinct research groups, making this school stand out on our artificial intelligence degree ranking.

7. University of Michigan

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
You won’t find the artificial intelligence degree at the University of Michigan in the School of Engineering, but rather in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Why? Because U of M places an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, which comes as a welcome relief to computer science majors who have trouble narrowing down their interests. In fact, CS students can choose from an incredible nine tracks within the program, including Economics and Computation, Bioinformatics, and yes – Artificial Intelligence. Undergrad researchers and graduate students will encounter a similar perspective at the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. This lab encompasses several other research groups (see below) and includes a multidisciplinary team of computer scientists, economists, linguists, psychologists, and philosophers.Net Price: $15,850/yrResearch Groups: Autonomy, Perception, Robotics, Interfaces, & Learning (APRIL) Robotics Lab; CHAI Lab; Computational Linguistics and Information Retrieval (CLAIR) Group; CROMA (Crowds + Machines) Lab; Distributed Intelligent Agents Group; Graph Exploration & Mining at Scale (GEMS) Lab; Intelligent Robotics Lab; Language & Information Technologies (LIT) Research Group; Soar; Strategic Reasoning Group

In addition to its BS in Computer Science, UC Berkeley offers a Cognitive Science program with a track in Computation that students can customize to earn an artificial intelligence degree.

6. University of California-Berkeley

B.S. in Computer Science: Technical Electives in Cognitive Science

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
Although the University of California Berkeley doesn’t officially offer a computer science track in artificial intelligence engineering, it might as well. The list of technical electives available to CS undergrads includes a group of Cognitive Science courses that will easily prepare them for an advanced artificial intelligence degree program. Course options include Computational Models of Cognition, Perception, and The Neural Basis of Thought and Language. But truth be told, that’s not why UC Berkeley lands so close to the top of our list. Rather, it’s the university’s dedication to AI research – and the two dozen faculty who support it – that has earned the school top honors. In fact, UC Berkeley’s expertise in this area is so expansive that it has established six different areas of exploration, including Learning and Probabilistic Inference, Speech and Language, and Vision.Net Price: $16,655/yrResearch Groups: Berkeley Laboratory for Information and System Sciences (BLISS); Berkeley Vision & Learning Center (BVLC); Center for Intelligent Systems (CIS); CITRIS People and Robots

Offering the only dual degree option on this ranking of artificial intelligence schools, UPenn’s Computer and Cognitive Science program demands a sincere passion and a strong work ethic.

5. University of Pennsylvania

B.A.S./B.S.E. in Computer & Cognitive Science

Undergraduate Program
We’ll admit, the artificial intelligence degree for undergraduates at the University of Pennsylvania is not for the faint of heart. Instead of opting for a specific concentration, AI students agree to a dual degree program in Computer and Cognitive Science. Although it might be more work than a traditional program, UPenn students are nothing if not ambitious! Here, you can choose between a BAS or BSE while taking classes across Penn Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences. And this is another university with a particularly strong research program; research activities run from Intelligent Systems to Theory and are currently thriving in several interdisciplinary labs on campus.Net Price: $22,694/yrResearch Groups: Center for Human Modeling & Simulation (HMS); General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception (GRASP) Lab; Institute for Research in Cognitive Science (IRCS); Penn Research in Machine Learning (PRiML)

In terms of both research and academics, the University of Georgia is one of the best choices on this artificial intelligence degree ranking.

4. University of Georgia

A.B. in Cognitive Science; M.S. in Artificial Intelligence

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
The University of Georgia is a clear “top dog” when it comes to artificial intelligence schools. In fact, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences houses an entire Institute for Artificial Intelligence! Here, undergrads can major in Cognitive Science and choose from two or more areas of concentration, one of which is Artificial Intelligence, of course. UGA is also home to perhaps the only master’s program in the country that focuses exclusively on AI, and students have the unique opportunity to further specialize their degree by choosing from tracks like Genetic Algorithms, Logic Programming, Cognitive Modeling, Microelectronics, and several others. Rounding out this already impressive profile is an artificial intelligence research program that includes more than two-dozen faculty – each of whom bring experience from other departments within the school.Net Price: $13,287/yrResearch Groups: Institute for Artificial Intelligence

There are nearly 30 faculty at Stanford who specialize in AI, Robotics, and Human-Computer Interaction, insuring this university’s status as one of the best artificial intelligence schools for many years to come.

3. Stanford University

Graduate ProgramUndergraduate Program
As would be expected, the computer and engineering heavyweight that is Stanford University offers one of the most impressive combinations of academic degrees and research programs in AI anywhere. To start, the undergraduate Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence program is nearly as comprehensive as many graduate degrees, with courses in computational biology, speech recognition, cognition, and machine learning, among others. The school’s graduate program also kicks it up a notch, with multiple specializations available to students interested in exploring the cutting-edge of AI developments. And those who end up working in the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) benefit from a staggering array of tech resources. The SAIL Compute Cluster consists of eight groups of machines – including the Gorgon, Visionlab, and Atlas – and “currently provide 3232 processor cores and 17.6TB of memory.”Net Price: $17,952/yrResearch Groups: Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

The University of Washington is widely considered one of the best locations for AI research in the world, so it’s no wonder it comes in 2nd on our top artificial intelligence schools ranking.

2. University of Washington

Undergraduate Program
For those who like variety, the University of Washington’s CSE program is the spice of life. Computer Science Engineering undergraduates enjoy the unparalleled opportunity to choose from 16 specializations! Many of these are both interdisciplinary and innovative in nature, and the User Interface and Human-Computer Interaction track is the perfect choice for AI enthusiasts. By offering courses through the Information School as well as the School of Art, Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering, and the Interaction Design Program, UW has crafted a highly marketable curriculum that blends science and art in the best ways. The university also hosts a star-studded artificial intelligence research group comprised of more than 30 faculty who regularly publish papers and win awards for their work in the AI field.Net Price: $10,374/yrResearch Groups: Automated Planning & Control; Brain-Computer Interfaces & Computational Neuroscience; Computational Biology; Intelligent Interaction; Machine Learning; Natural Language Processing; Robotics; Graphics & Imaging Laboratory.

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is one artificial intelligence school that understands the value of hard work, having pushed its AI research program to grow from a “simple faculty initiative” to a national leader in the field in less than a decade.

1. University of Tennessee-Knoxville

B.S. in Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence

Undergraduate Program
If you really have your heart set on attending the #1 artificial intelligence school out there, then you should probably set your sights on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Starting at the undergraduate level, students in the computer science program can enhance their knowledge of artificial intelligence through specialized courses in biologically inspired computation, pattern recognition, and machine learning. But graduate students (and those who enter the five-year BS/MS program) get the biggest reward for choosing UT: access to the Center for Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning. This gargantuan initiative – which only officially became a research center in 2010 – claims a staff of nearly 40 faculty members, including eight researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Especially considering this group’s explosive growth in recent years, UT Knoxville certainly deserves its spot at the top of our list.Net Price: $17,863/yrResearch Groups: Center for Intelligent Systems & Machine Learning